AMD Radeon R9 295X2 Review: Hawaii x 2

Article Index:

Our Summary and Conclusion

Performance Summary:Before we nit-pick the numbers, let’s be clear: The AMD Radeon R9 295X2 is the fastest single graphics card we have ever tested, by far. With that said, looking back through our benchmark results, the dual-card GeForce GTX 780 Ti SLI configuration put up higher scores, more often than not. However, the Radeon R9 295X2 was able to overtake the GTX 780 Ti SLI setup on a number of occasions, particularly at higher resolutions (like 4K).

The Radeon R9 295X2 is easily AMD’s most ambitious dual-GPU powered graphics card to date. Everything about the Radeon R9 295X2 is extreme, from its performance to its aesthetics, and its price. AMD is setting the MSRP on this powerhouse at $1499, with expected availability the week of April 21st. At that price, the Radeon R9 295X2 is more expensive than a pair of GeForce GTX 780 Ti cards. And it’s pricier than a pair of Radeon R9 290X cards too. Strictly looking at performance $1499 is somewhat tough to justify—if you could ever justify the purchase of a top-of-the-line graphics card. If you consider the all-metal construction, lighted logo and fan, and the liquid-cooler, however, it’s easier to understand the Radeon R9 295X2’s price premium. A couple of Radeon R9 290X cards with water blocks, a pump, radiator assembly, etc. would easily surpass $1500. And then there’s the $3000 GeForce GTX Titan Z to consider—that baby commands an even larger premium. We guess what we’re getting at is that we wish AMD was a bit more aggressive with pricing on the Radeon R9 295X2, but in the end it is an ultra-premium product and ultra-premium products targeted at PC enthusiast are always pricey.

Ultimately though, if you’re considering an AMD Radeon R9 CrossFire setup, and are ready to accept the issues associated with running multiple GPUs, the Radeon R9 295X2 is a monster. It’s not quite Radeon R9 290X CrossFire in a single-card form factor, because there’s the liquid cooling setup to consider, but we don’t think that’s going to turn off potential consumers of a card of this type, especially considering how much quieter it can be than a pair of 290Xes. We think AMD’s got some more software tuning to do to get the most out of the Radeon R9 295X2, but that will perpetually be the case with multi-GPU configurations. Here’s hoping AMD remains committed to optimizing the drivers and software for the Radeon R9 295X2 (and CrossFire in general), because this is one of the most drool-worthy graphics cards to ever come out AMD.